The “African kick-off Conference for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development,  organized by the Government of Egypt (through the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, and the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries) and UNESCO (through its IOC and the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States), will serve as a platform for the launch of the Decade in Africa.

The conference is scheduled for February 2021 and is expected to provide a forum to take stock of status of ocean science and technology in the region, deliberate on how ocean sciences in Africa should be supported and focused on delivering the required societal outcomes, and seek interest and commitment of the oceanographic community to embark on a number of directions of research which are critical for ocean sustainable management.

It will also bring energy to the Decade of African Seas and Oceans (2015-2025) by providing impetus for development of ocean sciences, technology and innovation necessary for the harnessing the Sustainable Blue Economy in Africa as outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (“The Africa We want”) , the 2050 African Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIMStrategy), and the African Blue Economy Strategy.

Additional information on this will be shared in due course.